Alhaurin el Grande is a village town in Guadalhorce Valley found on the northern slope of Sierra de Mijas.
With a typical rural landscape – it is surrounded by various fruit trees, corn fields, olive groves and gardens, it is a perfect place to escape the busy coast yet neither is it too remote.
Alhaurin el Grande has a population of approximately 25,000 and is situated a bit more inland compared to its sister town Alhaurin de la Torre.
These two are at least 15 kilometers apart. It’s only 30 minutes to the coast which makes it ideally placed for nearby beaches.
It’s appeal as a traditional village away from the large tourist resorts on the Costa del Sol means it has a thriving expat population and makes it a good potential choice if you want to move to Spain.
Alhaurin el Grande is rich in history and dates back to as early as Phoenician times and has also played an important role in the eras of the Romans, Greeks, Visigoths and Arabs.
Are you an expat in Alhaurin el Grande? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know in the comments box at the bottom of the page.
The video below has photos and pictures of Alhaurin el Grande:
What is the nearest airport to Alhaurin el Grande?
The nearest airport to Alhaurin el Grande is the Malaga airport which is merely half an hour away. This airport has domestic and international flights from Malaga and is only 26 kilometers from the center of Alhaurin el Grande.
The Gibraltar International Airport is another major airport at 109 kilometers away from Alhaurin el Grande.
How to get there?
You can easily reach Alhaurin el Grande by car on the fabulous A404 direct road into el Grande. This road is linked to the main coast road E15/A7 so getting here from the airport is even easier. The A404 serves Churriana, de la Torre, el Grande and Coin.
Or you can also use the old road N-340 and the road leading to Coin past the airport. Another route is through the A-367 and the exit that goes to Cartama. Once you are in Cartama, take the Mirabuen road (MA-425) which will lead you to Alhaurin el Grande.
There are no train lines available to Alhaurin el Grande.
There is no direct bus to Alhaurin el Grande.
A taxi should be no more than 40 euros.
Distances
Málaga Airport – 26km/14m (32 min)
Gibraltar Airport – 110km/68m (87 min)
Málaga Train Station – 30km/18m (33 min)
Beach (Fuengirola) – 21km/13m (30 min)
GPS/Satellite navigation co-ordinates
Geographical coordinates are at 36˚ 38’ 0” North, 4˚ 41’ 0” West.
What are the major sights and interesting things to do?
With a surface area of 72.6 square kilometers and a population of more than 24,000, Alhaurin el Grande boasts breathtaking natural areas that are covered with wild olive trees, holm oaks, oak trees and pine trees. Likewise, these areas are also the natural habitats of a wide array of animal species that include wild cats, golden eagles, foxes and mountain goats among others. Visitors also marvel at the town’s environmental resources such as the abundant water springs made possible by the municipality’s aquifer.
If you’re the adventurous type, one great way to explore the area is through the Fuente del Acebuche Route which is found across the Sierra de Mijas. You can either go on foot, ride a bike or go on horseback. If you have an interest in keeping fit, try hiring a personal trainer.
The town also has an impressive agricultural heritage which you can appreciate deeper by visiting its Agricultural Museum. Here, you can find a wide collection of farming and husbandry tools that date back to 1870.
The main sights are the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion and the two shrines, Santa Vera Cruz and San Sebastian, which are both associated with the town’s observance of Holy Week.
Other notable places of interest include the ruins of the Fahala Fort, the Hurique Watchtower, the Arco del Cobertizo, the Moorish Cork Mill, the Gate of San Rafael, the Shrines of San Anton and Cristo de la Agonia, the Lucena or Twelve-Spot Fountain and the Molino de la Paca (Paca’s Mill) where you can witness the town